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INTERNET SEARCH ADVERTISING OUTFIT Google has given its logo an overhaul and tightened up its font.
The change is part of a wider update that looks to improve the way that people use the search engine.
"If you're anything like me, you move among devices and Google products on a regular basis. You might check Gmail on your phone, for instance, then organize your Calendar via laptop, then browse Google+ photos from your tablet," said Eddie Kessler, technical lead at Google.
"Regardless of your routine, getting around Google should be seamless, and once you're inside an app, you don't want any distractions. So we're introducing an updated Google bar that streamlines your experience across products and devices."
In the real world this translates to a unified bar that users can carry with them across their devices. Google will let them tinker with it so that it presents their most commonly used options at the forefront. It has also made its apps easier to access and use.
"Your Google products are now accessible under a new app launcher, located at the top right of the screen," added Kessler. "Just click on the familiar 'Apps' grid, also present on Android devices and Chromebooks."
Google has not waxed too lyrical about its new look logo, and without our glasses on the difference is rather hard to spot. Kessler said it is tidier, and advised users to keep an eye out for it.
"We've also refined the color palette and letter shapes of the Google logo," he added. "We'll be rolling out this update across most Google products over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out and let us know your thoughts." µ
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There are several ways to buy cheap cars. You can buy cheap used cars from second hand car dealers, check the classified ads for cars on sale or use eBay where there are people selling cheap cars.
However, one of the best ways to save money on cars is through seized car auctions. You can buy seized cars for sale at a cheap price.
Most cars that are up on seized car auctions are repossessed or Do You Have Used Cars For Sale? Ford Fusion SE Cornell WI 54732 seized cars. Therefore, sometimes, the cars are still in relatively good condition. There are wide selections available these days in repo car auctions.
These days, the number of vehicles seized by the government have grown exponentially to the point where the government can’t afford to keep and maintain all the seized cars since it cost money.
Therefore, you can find many cheap car deals on repo car auctions. They need to get rid of these seized Ford Fusion SE Cornell WI 54732 cars as soon as possible to free up space for more repossessed cars. So it is not uncommon to buy cars that are still relatively new and cost only 10% to 50% of the current market price.
These seized car auctions are held all over the country though the dates are sometimes difficult to find out. You can search classified ads in your local newspaper where sometimes, they will post an ad.
Another way to find Taking Advantage of Used Cars Ford Fusion SE Cornell WI 54732 these seized car auctions is online. There are several websites that are dedicated to listing the latest seized car auctions in your area. Sometimes, they will also provide the latest seized car auction listings, bid offers, starting prices and so on.
This provides a good way of knowing which model of cars are on auctions and their prices before you even need to go the auto auction.
Buying seized cars for sale is certainly one of Ford Fusion SE Cornell WI 54732 the lesser known ways of buying cheap cars. Many people actually use this to start a business of buying and selling cars.
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9-21 Prep Roundup: Lake Holcombe/Cornell football rallies past Saint Croix Falls
Lake Holcombe/Cornell (5-1, 3-1) scored 28 points in the ... Division 1 regionals next Wednesday at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids. At Menomonie, the Cardinals picked up a singles ...
As Cornell Finds Him Guilty of Academic Misconduct, Food Researcher Will Retire
Brian Wansink will retire from Cornell University, where he is director of the Food and Brand Lab, after a university investigation found that he had committed academic misconduct. The news, announced ...
Statement of Cornell University Provost Michael I. Kotlikoff
For more than a year, Cornell University has been engaged in reviewing allegations of misconduct against Professor Brian Wansink, many of which were highly public in their nature. The process of revie...
How Hotels Need to Balance the Amenities We Want Versus Those We Actually Use
Dev, professor of marketing at Cornell University’s School of Hotel ... He said that research showed how “free Wi-Fi helps bring in guests and bottled water brings guests back,” for instance.
STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT CHIPPEWA COUNTY NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
City of Cornell, Chippewa County, Wisconsin.PROPERTY ADDRESS: 621 Johnson Rd Cornell, WI 54732-8329DATED: September 13, 2018James L. KowalczykChippewa County SheriffGray & Associates, L.L.P ...
Mother of slain college student sues Cornell for $20 million
The mother of an Ithaca College student who was stabbed to death after a party on Cornell University's campus in 2016 is suing Cornell and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for $20 million. Katia ...
No evidence Cornell fraternity held alleged 'pig roast' contest
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So Wisconsin was the higher-seeded team Sunday at Veterans Memorial Arena? Like so many previous games in the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, 12th-seeded Cornell proved to Wisconsin and the res...
Shaver leads Wisconsin women past Cornell
Sophia Shaver scored twice as the top-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey team beat No. 7 Cornell 3-1. Alexis Mauermann also scored for Wisconsin. It was her seventh goal of the season. Wisconsin improved ...
Cornell Area Care Center
A continuing-care facility or community meets a continuum of needs as residents age, from independent living to assisted living to nursing home care. Resident and family councils provide an organized ...

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Vava decided to be part of the solution and help coffee farmers and women coffee
Millions of women lost their job during the pandemic. No more than ever there has
Fairtrade green sneakers are the two founders’ answer to helping women improve their lives in
We have to start (impact) investing in a way that protects the planet, its people.
In January 2018, Oxfam reported that 42 billionaires possess 50% of the world’s wealth. Some
One way we can help transform the world is to buy fair trade and consciously-made
What does Fair Trade have to do with Women? Fair Trade USA has been working
I believe we're all called to serve in a certain capacity in a certain Arena


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Samsung has unveiled a 200-megapixel image sensor designed for smartphone cameras, which is by far the highest resolution phone camera sensor ever created. The ISOCELL HP1 has 0.64m pixels and can bin 16 of them at the same time, equating to a 12.5-megapixel sensor with 2.56m pixels.
Samsung refers to the pixel-binning technology in the HP1 as “ChameleonCell.” The four-by-four 12.5-megapixel setting is intended for low-light use, but it can also capture full 200-megapixel resolution photos or 50-megapixel images using a two-by-two binning technique.
The HP1 can also capture 8K video thanks to the two-by-two binning mode. Samsung claims it can shoot 8K without cropping, despite the fact that standard 8K (7,680 x 4,320) is less than 50 megapixels.
In addition, Samsung is introducing a new sensor called the ISOCELL GN5. It has a 50-megapixel sensor with 1.0m pixels, and Samsung claims it is the first sensor with 1.0m pixels to incorporate its Dual Pixel Pro technology. That makes it sound like a scaled-down version of the 1.4m-pixel GN2, which was the largest phone camera sensor available when it debuted on Xiaomi’s Mi 11 Ultra earlier this year.
Although Samsung has not stated when either new sensor will be mass produced, samples are currently available for phone manufacturers.


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Wednesday, June 07, 2006
WSJ.com - Drive Makers Cram More Data Capacity On New Disk Devices
WSJ.com - Drive Makers Cram More Data Capacity On New Disk Devices: "The company [Seagate] also is announcing plans for a hybrid drive for laptop computers that combines 160 gigabytes of disk storage with 256 megabytes of flash memory, a feature designed to allow computers to wake up from their 'sleep' mode about 20% faster than disk drives alone. When combined with Microsoft Corp.'s Vista operating system due out next year, such hybrid drives can allow a portable PC to boot up in 10 seconds or less -- a big time saver for portable PC users, said Bill Watkins, Seagate's chief executive officer. 'Our sense is if you could get a 10-second boot time you would buy a new notebook,' Mr. Watkins said."


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IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods has met with the leaders of the UK NFU Livestock Committees in Belfast to discuss Brexit and the price and income problems in the beef sector.
“Farm organisations from Britain and Ireland are extremely concerned about the severe consequences of a no-deal Brexit and the possibility of a flood of sub-standard South American imports damaging the beef sector,” he said.
He said the uncertainty caused by Brexit has destabilised and damaged the beef market from the consumer right back down the supply chain to the producer.
“It is very clear from our discussions that beef farmers all across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are under severe income pressure as a result of unviable low beef prices.”
“Our farming colleagues across the UK are clear beef that prices have to rise. Farmers cannot stay producing beef at below the cost of production. Retailers and processors must respond and return a higher price back to the farmer.”
Ahead of an important European meeting of livestock farmers with the EU Commission in Brussels next week, Angus Woods said, “we discussed the need to turn up the pressure on the Commission over the ever-increasing volumes of sub-standard South American imports damaging the EU market and prices. The facts are these imports fail to meet EU standards and must be banned”.
The IFA Livestock Chairman said he also had discussions with the NFU livestock leaders from Wales regarding the ongoing and similar income challenges livestock farmers in Wales and Ireland are facing over unviable cattle prices.
The meeting of the UK and Irish livestock leaders was attended by the IFA (Irish Farmers Association), UFU (Ulster Farmers Union), NFU England and Wales (National Farmers Union) and NFUS (National Farmers Union Scotland).


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Driverless Cars - Big Safety Initiative?
Posted by: Linda Kay | February 10, 2014
What if you could sit in the driver’s seat and cruise down the road without a single thought about actually driving the car? Just maybe taking people out of the driving equation could be the biggest safety initiative in history.
Some experts expect driverless cars to hit America's roadways by 2030, while test sites are cropping up much sooner. According to sources at NBC News, the University of Michigan, and state government officials aim to have a 32-acre driverless car test site running by September, just in time for a global conference on intelligent transportation systems. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder joined new GM CEO Mary Barra at the Detroit auto show and outlined plans for the Mobility Transformation Facility, a $6.5 million site that will offer a simulated urban environment with roads, intersections, building facades, traffic circles and a hill.
The concept of driverless cars originally emerged with anti-lock brakes that shouldered the load for braking in hazardous conditions, reducing driver error and leading to fewer accidents. Then came the added sophistication of traction and stability control. Today’s cars are now equipped with rear cameras and bumper sensors. Seems a like next step is having the car drive itself.
At the International Consumer Electronics Show this January in Las Vegas, BMW and Audi unveiled their latest driverless car technology and conducted demonstration drives. Nevada is one of a few states where it's legal to test drive autonomous cars, though it requires a person to sit in the driver's seat at all times.
BMW demonstrated its latest self-driving technology on a modified 2 Series Coupe.
The car uses steering, breaking and throttle to control acceleration, deceleration and direction in very small, exact amounts. The demonstration is just one aspect of the technical building blocks required to make a self-driving car. There are also sensors, environmental modeling and decision and driving strategy technologies that BMW is working on.
Audi is particularly proud of decreasing the size of its computer systems, which previously filled the entire trunk of the car, into a box that's mounted inside the glove compartment. In the future, the system could be used for key automated-driving tasks like traffic sign recognition, lane departure warnings and pedestrian spotting.
Car makers agree that while there are many technical issues ahead, they may not be the most daunting obstacles self-driving cars face. Autonomous driving features are at least seven to 10 years away from becoming commercially available. The technology inside the cars is developing fast, but the auto industry will need at least that much time to sort out a tangle of non-hardware and software issues to clear the way for the cars.
Researchers and makers of driverless cars say the technology will be far safer than people-driven vehicles because they eliminate unpredictable human errors like distracted or drunk driving and poor reactions to emergency situations.
Insurance and liability are particular tricky. If a car driving itself gets into an accident resulting in damages or injuries, who is responsible? The driver who was watching Netflix on a state-of-the-art car entertainment system, or the manufacturer that designed the car?
We would like to hear your thoughts about Driverless Cars and invite you to comment on our blog.
While you’re still driving the car yourself, you need great car insurance. We’re here to answer your questions.
Dean & Draper is a Trusted Choice insurance agency representing over 200 insurance companies. For over 33 years we have offered a trusted freedom of choice to our clients. ContactUs.


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Glo is a battery operated smokeless alternative to combustible cigarettes and works by heating sticks containing tobacco leaves. These refills which look like short cigarettes, must be inserted into the device and are heated up once it is switched on.
BAT launched Glo for the first time in South Korea in August 2017, opening its first flagship store in the Garosugil shopping district of Seoul. Similarly PMI had launched its own HnB iQOS the previous May.
Glo marketed as more user friendly than other HnBs
One of Glo’s selling points has been its competitive price. While the IQOS device sells at 120,000 won, Glo is priced at 90,000 won. “We have three wins in next generation products. More choice, more innovation, less harm,” said Roberta Palazzetti, the area director for BAT North Asia.
“It’s one touch, one button. It’s got a very easy-to-understand user interface. It’s easy to clean. Lastly, it’s very easy to carry,” explained Hamish Norrie, the marketing director of BAT Korea at the time of the original launch.
Now BAT Korea has announced the launch of the upgraded version of Glo, which comes with enhanced function and design. Additionally last Monday the tobacco company also unveiled Neo, a non-burning tobacco exclusively for the device that is to replace the existing Neostiks.
Korea’s ever-growing market of safer alternatives
The demand for smokeless tobacco devices and e-cigarettes in Korea has been growing. When iQOS was first launched in Japan, it was immediately sold out, but in Korea it did even better.
“Korea has benefited from the product awareness generated by Japan, so it has been a faster start than Japan and I hope it will continue that way,” said Calantzopoulos at the time. “They are [both] countries which are open to innovation and trying new products, and have a culture of considering people around them.”
Read Further: Pulse


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D’aww, so deadly
Arc System Works, a company that’s potentially looking at an unbelievable 2018, also announced during EVO 2017 that they’re adding Jubei, Ragna’s teacher and character thought to be forever stuck in the background, to the BlazBlue: Central Fiction roster as DLC.
I know some folks have been waiting on a playable Jubei for a long time, and this reveal trailer definitely makes it seem worth the wait. His movements are animated beautifully, his rushdown game looks monstrous, and he’s just a cute kitty. I’m a total sucker for this type of character design.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction is currently available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC.


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Happy September! To celebrate the beginning of the fall season, we’re bringing you the August edition of the dv01 Digest, dv01’s monthly newsletter.
In this month’s Digest, we take a look at whether recent vintages show a tightening of credit bands, particularly for lower quality borrowers. We also review recent news from Lending Club and Prosper, focusing on delinquencies and origination growth.
Download the dv01 Digest now for more news and insights.
Subscribe to our mailing list to stay up-to-date with the latest market insights and product updates.Subscribe


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It was at the Miami Conference on the Caribbean two years ago that Charmaine M.B.C. Gardner began talking with the Hartz Mountain Corp. about creating a bird breeding facility on the tiny island of St. Lucia.
As president of the island's Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Gardner was eager to attract non-traditional industries to St. Lucia, which has primarily exported bananas, and before that, sugar, to earn foreign exchange. A birdhouse, designed to mate brightly colored parakeets, parrots, macaws and toucans, seemed like a good bet.
Of course, the project would not compare in size with the Heineken-owned brewery, or the Amerada Hess oil storage terminal already in place. But it would be the first project built in response to President Reagan's new Caribbean Basin Initiative, permitting duty-free exports from the area to the United States.
Two years later, Gardner has soured on the program. Instead of talking to private entrepreneurs, at this year's conference she is talking to U.S. Agriculture Department officials, who have blocked the birds from entering the United States.
The project, a joint venture between Hartz Mountain and St. Lucia Parakeet Co., has no market for the birds after spending more than $250,000 to build the birdhouse.
Gardner says the facility was built to Agriculture Department specifications, with double mesh screens, special fencing, decontamination baths and other precautions to keep native species from mingling with the breeding colony brought in from California.
Nevertheless, the U.S. agency recently ruled that the birds carried a risk of spreading poultry diseases, effectively preventing their export to the United States. The ruling came after the department read 800 letters of opposition from trade groups and bird breeders in this country.
"Apparently, the U.S. lobby is a very powerful lobby, and it is politically unwise to ignore it," Gardner says. St. Lucia is now "exploring other alternatives" for export of the birds, she says.
The story is a textbook example of the non-tariff trade barriers that have undermined the success of the Caribbean initiative. Although duty-free treatment of goods makes them more financially attractive to produce, it is far from the only factor in determining the profitability of a new Caribbean investment.
U.S. health and environmental regulations are a prime obstacle. In addition to its bird problems, St. Lucia has been unable to export citrus fruits for the past three years because of U.S. suspicions about fruit flies in the former British colony.
Licensing requirements are a major barrier, as is the availability of foreign exchange. And export taxes, because they are easier to collect than income taxes, are another non-tariff barrier prevailing in many Caribbean countries.
The interpretation of customs procedures can also frustrate the best- intentioned legislation. "I would say the attitude of officials is one of the fundamental problems of this whole exercise," says Charles Maynard, Dominica's minister of agriculture, trade, industry and tourism.
To manufacture finished export goods, companies must often import components, Maynard says. But officials can adversely interpret customs rules to block imports that might compete with domestic goods and subvert the local job market.
Even foreign press coverage can be considered a non-tariff barrier, according to Maynard. "It only takes one article in The New York Times to prevent the import of a product into a region for a long time," the minister says.
Trade officials say they're trying to solve these problems. But solving one problem sometimes creates another.
To discourage fruit flies and other pests, fruit used to be fumigated with ethelyene di-bromide (EDB). But the gas was recently declared a cancer-causing substance by the Environmental Protection Agency. Without use of the chemical, Haiti has been unable to export its large mango crop to the United States.
U.S. and Caribbean countries alike are frustrated that legitimate health and safety rules are sometimes used as a screen to protect domestic industries. But it's a problem that has no easy solutions, according to Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Jon Rosenbaum.
"I don't think you can expect us in the name of the Caribbean Basin Initiative to expose our population to cancer-causing agents," he says.
That's cold comfort to St. Lucia, which now has a flock of surplus tropical birds.
Says Gardner: "All we did was mate them and breed them, and now we have to put them back in the same little box they came in and send them back to California."


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Smeg has announced the appointment of Ben Staniforth as manager of its new flagship showroom in London’s West End.
Joining the brand with over 10 years’ experience in the consumer electronics industry, as manager, Staniforth will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day activities in the store, helping to drive greater brand awareness. Staniforth will also oversee the brand’s concession in Harrods.
Speaking of his appointment Jill Ashford, commercial director of Smeg, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ben to the team at such a momentous and exciting time. With extensive experience, passion and commitment to deliver outstanding results, Ben will prove essential as the driving force behind the in-store team and Smeg is thrilled to have him on board.”


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Reporter Katie Arcieri discusses her story with WFDD's Audrey Fannin about Stanley Furniture's new headquarters in downtown High Point. The decision by Stanley to relocate from southern Virginia not only gives the Furniture Capital a much needed boost but it becomes the latest manufacturer to boost its Triad presence.
Ashley Furniture, which has had a major presence at the High Point Market, recently broke ground on a more than 1-million-square-foot expansion to its mid-Atlantic furniture manufacturing and distribution facility in Davie County.
And wood furniture manufacturer and logistics company OFS Brands announced in March that it would will expand in High Point, hiring 188 and investing $9.3 million during the next five years.
To listen to the podcast, click here.
Subscribers to The Business Journal can read Katie's full story here.


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Leading parenting website Mumsnet has announced that user’s data has been stolen by hackers exploiting the Heartbleed Bug.
Mumsnet has around 1.5 million registered members and believes that cyber thieves may have obtained passwords and personal messages before it patched its site.
Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts said in a statement that a recommended fix was applied immediately after the bug was discovered last week.
However, she said there was no way of knowing how many users had already been affected by the security breach.
“It became apparent that users’ data submitted via our login page had been accessed prior to our applying this fix,
“We have no way of knowing which or how many accounts were affected but have advised users to change passwords.”
Mumsnet said it’s users were sent an email on Saturday urging them to reset their passwords, not only on mumsnet but on other sites where they may have used the same password. The email also said:
“We have no way of knowing which Mumsnetters were affected by this.
“The worst case scenario is that the data of every Mumsnet user account was accessed.
“It is possible that this information could then have been used to log in as you and give access to your posting history, your personal messages and your personal profile, although we should say that we have seen no evidence of anyone’s account being used for anything other than to flag up the security breach, thus far.”
The Heartbleed Bug was used to exploit a flaw in the widely-used web encryption programme OpenSSL and allows anyone on the internet to read the memory of the systems, meaning attackers can then eavesdrop on communications, as well as steal data directly from and impersonate the services and users.
More than half of websites use various versions of the software. The extent of the damage is still unclear.
Photo by mumsnet


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A lifelong complaint of Pokémon players is that transferring their discovered creatures between games is a hassle when it’s possible at all. While trading between same-generation games like Sword and Shield isn’t as big of a deal, getting your Pokémon from older titles into new games is now simple thanks to a new cloud gaming service called Pokémon Home.
It lets gamers import all of the Pokémon they’ve caught over the years into one common location for trading, moving, and more. Of course, it all comes with a monthly fee for premium features. That hasn’t stopped 1.3 million people from downloading the app in the first week of its existence though.
Pokémon Home launched amid a huge wave of anticipation on February 12. The service is a collaboration between Nintendo and the Pokémon Company—and a long-awaited one at that. Sensor Tower, an industry analytics firm, announced on Thursday that the cloud service has captured 1.3 million downloads in just a week.
Unsurprisingly, 444,000 of those come from the U.S., followed by Japan, Great Britain, Germany, and France respectively.
The app is available on the Nintendo Switch as well as iOS and Android devices. It’s worth noting that downloading Pokémon Home is totally free and users can access limited versions of the platform’s features without paying a cent.
However, there are plenty of users who don’t mind coughing up a few dollars for the Premium Pokémon Home plan’s extra capabilities. A monthly plan costs $2.99 while an annual subscription costs $15.99.
Shelling out for the premium version lets players do a lot more within the Pokémon Home app. They are able to deposit 6,000 Pokémon (rather than 30); place ten Pokémon in the Wonder Box (rather than three); place three Pokémon in the Global Trade System (rather than one); and host room trades rather than just participating. The premium offering also lets users access the Nintendo 3DS Pokémon Bank software.
Sensor Tower also reported that Pokémon Home has been quite profitable in its first week of life. It has raked in approximately $1.8 million in that time frame.
With apps like Pokémon Home, there’s always one major concern—can it keep up the momentum? Considering that it isn’t a service that everyone will be attracted to, it’s safe to say that things will likely slow down in the coming weeks. Nonetheless, if “Pokémon Go” has taught us anything, it’s that the Pokémon brand is strong. The fanbase is even stronger.
That will likely be enough to make Pokémon Home a successful experiment even if its post-launch days aren’t quite as exciting.
Speaking of “Pokémon Go,” the cloud platform will be adding support for the wildly popular augmented reality mobile game later this year. Once that is accomplished, another wave of downloads and subscriptions will likely follow. Players who have been catching Pokémon in the “real world” for the past few years will undoubtedly want to introduce them to the ones they caught in console games.
Regardless of what the future holds, Pokémon Home shows that cloud gaming applications have hope so long as they are supported by popular franchises.


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Recently a hotel in North Point was shut down to make way for redevelopment into an office tower. Although it may have just another business decision of the owner, Henderson Land, to generate higher returns, it reflects an undeniable fact: the local tourism industry is facing a tough time.
In the first half of 2015 Hong Kong recorded a 3.8 percent decline in the number of overnight visitors. It is expected that the slide may continue for some time, resulting in further job cuts in the industry.
Currently the tourism sector is estimated to provide 270,000 jobs. So if there is a 5 percent job reduction in the industry, it will mean that around 13,000 people will lose their jobs.
Given the situation, it is vital that measures are taken to boost the competitiveness of the tourism industry and improve its prospects.
Recent government surveys on tourism were often inconclusive because most of them failed to take into account the opinions of the “main characters”—the tourists and citizens.
For example, what do tourists want us to do in order to make Hong Kong more attractive? As far as the general public is concerned, the question is: how should the government revitalize the tourism industry without disrupting people’s daily way of life?
Many in the tourism sector have suggested that Hong Kong develop more tourist attractions, draw more business travelers and foster the development of cruise tours. However, it appears that these suggestions have not been followed up by the administration.
Of the ten most-visited tourist attractions in Hong Kong, eight have been around since 2006. Only a handful of new attractions have been opened in recent years.
In comparison, since 2008 there have been new tourist attractions opening almost every year in Singapore. The city’s tourist number has surged, reaching 15.1 million in 2014.
Elsewhere, although South Korea hasn’t opened any new major attractions in recent years, its number of foreign visitors almost doubled and reached 14.1 million over the same period, thanks to the highly popular South Korean TV dramas and movies that have taken the world by storm.
Filming locations of popular TV series have become some of the most-visited tourist spots in the country.
Now, coming back to Hong Kong, the city has been the location for some scenes in Hollywood blockbusters such as “Batman: The Dark Knight” and “Transformers 4: Age of Extinction”.
Hong Kong is also one of the food capitals of the world.
Against this backdrop, the government should utilize the advantages and promote Hong Kong as an “Eatertainment” destination.
This article appeared in the Hong Kong Economic Journal on Sept. 1.
Translation by Alan Lee
[Chinese version 中文版]
– Contact us at [email protected]


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OTTAWA, Nov. 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada's paper products industry will lose
money for the third consecutive year in 2007, but is expected to break even
next year, according to the Conference Board's Canadian Industrial Outlook:
Canada's Paper Products Industry - Autumn 2007.
"Profits in recent years have taken a double hit from the rapid rise of
the loonie, since industry revenues are in U.S. dollars and costs are mainly
in Canadian dollars," said Valérie Poulin, Economist. "However, modest gains
in prices will help the industry make a slow recovery starting in 2008."
The industry will lose more than $400 million this year. With costs
expected to decrease faster than revenues in 2008, the industry can expect a
modest profit of $6 million next year. Profits are forecast to steadily
improve, exceeding $1 billion annually starting in 2010.
Production of paper products has been falling since 2004 and is expected
to decline through 2008, as the increased use of computers and the internet
limits North American demand for some grades of paper. Although demand from
China is on the rise, it will not offset the loss of exports to the U.S. and
weak domestic consumption.
For further information:
For further information: Brent Dowdall, Media Relations, (613) 526-3090
ext. 448, firstname.lastname@example.org; www.conferenceboard.ca


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In the last year, one in 10 firms reported being a victim of a cyber-attack according to a survey of nearly 1,000 UK businesses. The survey, carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and IT company Cisco, also found this figure rose to one in seven in larger firms with more than 50 employees. More than half the firms surveyed also believed their exposure to attacks had increased due to staff working from home. Aine Rogers, Head of Small Business at Cisco, said: “The lines between professional and personal are more blurred than ever.
“Organisations are no longer just protecting an ‘office’ but a workforce at the kitchen table.
“As businesses and individuals, we’re more exposed than ever to security threats.
The rise in such activity has been closely followed since the start of the pandemic by cyber security firms.
David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky, reported since the pandemic there had been an increase in attempts to gain access to company systems via remote links as well as extensive use of Covid related themes such as furlough and vaccination appointments in phishing scams.
Mr Emm explained some companies using monitoring software on company laptops had also led to employees using their own equipment instead, with potentially weaker security.
Despite the threat of cybercrime only 21 percent of firms reported having cyber security accreditations in place.
This figure fell to 12 percent for smaller firms with less than 10 employees.
BCC Director General, Shevaun Haviland commented: “The huge shift to home working, and the use of cloud computing, for tens of thousands of employees happened almost overnight, so it is not surprising that many firms were caught out by the implications this had for their cyber-security arrangements.
“All of the BCC’s research indicates that a shift to a more hybrid way of work ing, with many staff now splitting their time between the office and home, is here to stay, so it is more vital than ever that firms have the right cyber-security protections in place.”
Research by cybersecurity firm Arctic Wolf has also recently found four in 10 UK businesses lacked comprehensive cybersecurity insurance.
Field Chief Technology Officer Ian McShane agreed hybrid working practices had created “a complex set of cybersecurity challenges that many businesses have firstly never had to face before, and secondly haven’t yet worked out how to manage.”
He advised businesses to review their security practices and factor in hybrid and often disparate networks.
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“Reactive, preventive measures won’t be enough; businesses need to prioritise their security operations and technologies, by putting in place more robust response plans to protect themselves from all types of attacks” he added.
The warning comes as the World Economic Forum today named cyber security as one of the biggest risks over the next five years.
According to its Global Risks in 2022 report, Covid 19 has intensified dependence on digital systems while cyber threats have outpaced societies’ ability to respond.
The report notes malware and ransomware attacks increased 358 percent and 435 percent respectively in 2020 as workers shifted to remote working.
Mr Emm suggested while firms had initially prioritised business continuity over security, now was the time to think about what needed to be put in place with measures such as two-factor authentication and better-managed systems being key.


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The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Consumers should get free credit reports each year, along with information to help them ensure accuracy and prevent fraud, the Bush administration said in a proposal Monday.
Such measures should be enacted in a renewal of the Fair Credit Reporting Act - parts of which are to expire Jan. 1 unless Congress extends them, the administration says.
"Recovering one's identity is a long, stressful and painful process," Treasury Secretary John Snow said. "We need to make it more difficult to take one's identity and much easier to re-establish one's identity."
Consumer groups have opposed the renewal, saying states often impose tougher standards. But the Bush administration wants additional consumer protections. The Treasury Department's proposal is similar to a bipartisan bill introduced in the House last week.
The standards expand credit opportunities to everybody, Snow said. "Essentially, they make your reputation as a borrower portable, so that you don't have to establish your good name from scratch in every city you visit or every store where you shop," he said.
P&G will run Super Bowl ads
Convergys wins $100M break
Ashland chemical unit sold for $300M
Car of future could do it all
Free credit reports proposed by Bush
Legislatures adopt taxes, anti-spam laws
Democrats, unions decry pay proposal
What's the buzz?


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Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG has sought legal action against Israel''s
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd to prevent it from selling a generic version
of Roche''s osteoporosis drug Boniva in the United States.
have filed a complaint for patent infringement in the New Jersey court against
Teva," Roche said.
products infringe on Roche''s patent rights," Roche spokeswoman Martina Rupp
which is sold as Bonviva in Europe, is covered by patents running from 2012 to
2023. "Our product is not off patent yet," she said.
of Boniva for the first six months of the year totaled 372 million Swiss francs
($314 million; €228 million).
belongs to a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates. The total market for that
class of drugs is worth an estimated 1.4 billion euros and is expected to grow
to 3 billion euros by 2010.
domestic rival Novartis AG and Teva have been involved in patent infringement
litigation since 2005.
meanwhile, said a US court halted Teva''s sale of a generic version of its Famvir
herpes treatment. The injunction by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
was issued on Friday, two days after a district court in New Jersey denied a motion
to stop Israel''s Teva from marketing its version of the drug, Novartis said.
injunction requires Teva to submit a response by September 11, Novartis said.
Novartis said earlier this month it would take a one-off charge worth up to $300
million for impairment of intangible assets after Teva launched a generic version
of its antiviral compound Famvir, a herpes treatment.


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Minecraft is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
Minecraft is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and Mojang AB, the games studio behind the popular title, is all set to put the anticipated augmented reality version of the game in beta mode.
The AR-based Minecraft Earth is going for a closed beta, which means interested users will have to sign up for a chance to play the game, the official release noted.
The closed beta will launch for iOS in the next two weeks, followed by the Android version. Given that it is a closed beta, only a limited number of players in a few select cities will be able to play Minecraft Earth.


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Oklahoma has some of the strictest liquor laws in the country when it comes to the sale of alcohol. It wasn’t until 1984 that restaurants were allowed to serve individual drinks in Oklahoma. Currently, Oklahoma is only one of 5 states that still sells beer with 3.2 percent alcohol by weight in grocery and convenience stores. If you love craft beer or wine, you have to get it hot at a liquor store.
Today the Oklahoma State Senate approved Senate Joint Resolution 68 to be sent to the voters sometime in November 2016 by a vote of 30-14. This measure basically amends the parts of the state constitution that limits the sale of alcohol. If passed, grocery and convenience stores will be able to sell strong beer and wine until 2am and on Sundays, and liquor stores will be able to sell cold high point beer.
One thing that many may not know about the amendment is that it would change how alcohol is distributed in Oklahoma. Wine and liquor manufacturers are not currently able to sell directly in Oklahoma. Manufacturers are required to use a single middle man, or broker, who is legally able to wholesale Alcohol in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is the only state in the country that has a distribution system that operates in this manner. Joint Resolution 68 will allow manufacturers to decide to which and how many wholesalers they use to distribute their product.
Opponents of the change claim that it will create less competition, cut jobs and possibly increase prices. This claim stems from the fact that big out-of-state owned corporate stores will be able to undercut locally owned liquor stores and force them out of business. Then as competition dries up prices will rise.
Many opponents are willing to compromise but would like to see changes that allow liquor stores to sell non-alcoholic items, which is currently outlawed in Oklahoma. They claim that allowing them to sell non-alcoholic products in their stores will give them the ability to compete with the grocery and convenience store chains and possibly save many jobs.
There are many other arguments for and against changing our state’s liquor laws, but no matter what your position is on the matter let your voice be heard this November.


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Juno Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on re-engaging the body’s immune system to revolutionize the treatment of cancer, announced the appointment of Robert Azelby as Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately.
Prior to joining Juno, Mr. Azelby was at Amgen, where he was Vice President and General Manager of Amgen’s Oncology Business Unit.
“Bob is a tremendous leader who will build a world-class commercial team at Juno,” said Hans Bishop, Juno’s Chief Executive Officer and President. “His experience in growing an impressive oncology business, including planning commercial strategy and overseeing multiple launches, will play a critical role in Juno’s next phase of growth.”
At Amgen, Mr. Azelby was responsible for the Oncology Business Unit, representing over $6 billion in annual revenue with over 600 sales and marketing personnel. Since taking over leadership in May 2012, Bob grew the business to be the second largest oncology division in the U.S.
“I am excited to join Juno at a time when we have the opportunity to shape commercial strategies for a new and innovative class of product candidates that have the potential to benefit patients suffering with cancer. I look forward to building and leading a top-tier organization that will help bring these exciting medicines to patients,” said Mr. Azelby.
During his 15 year tenure at Amgen, Mr. Azelby was also the Vice President of Amgen’s U.S. Oncology Sales team, which is one of the largest oncology sales teams in the U.S. In addition, Bob has been the Vice President of Amgen’s North American Commercial Effectiveness Unit, responsible for sales and marketing functions, including market research, forecasting, sales training, and sales operations. Bob garnered international experience as Amgen’s General Manager, Netherlands, responsible for all aspects of its commercial operations in that country. Before then, Bob held numerous sales and marketing positions, each with increasing responsibilities. Roles included project management, business development, regional sales management, and national marketing director. Mr. Azelby will report to Mr. Bishop.
Mr. Azelby received his undergraduate degrees in Economics and Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and his Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.
Source: Juno Therapeutics, Inc.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent to MedTrace for their method of diagnosing the human heart via 15O-water PET. The patented method is the foundation of the company’s software aQuant, currently under development. Hendrik “Hans” Harms, PhD and Senior Scientist at MedTrace, and Jens Soerensen, Professor and Clinical Advisor to MedTrace, are the originators of the method.
Teresa Graham, currently head of global product strategy for Roche pharma, will become the division’s new CEO next month, Roche said Thursday. Simultaneously, Roche is elevating Levi Garraway, chief medical officer, to the executive committee.
Fierce Pharma has obtained internal documents and video of a town hall meeting conducted this week describing what J&J called a “comprehensive review” of its portfolio. Moving forward, J&J plans to operate its vaccines and infectious diseases outfits as one group, the executives explained.


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About Netflix and Amazon not buying other people’s content
After Netflix and Amazon bought a combined 15 titles at least year’s Sundance Film Festival they walk away with exactly zero this year because of an evolving digital content strategy:
They showed up, took the meetings and put in bids but ultimately they came home empty-handed. Why?
They know the value of owning content
With the success of originals like House Of Cards, Orange Is The New Black, Stranger Things and others, they’re coming at the content business from a position of power. The power is knowing their audience intimately through data. It’s not like they don’t have the budget to spend with Netflix projected to spend $7-8 billion in 2018 and Amazon projected to spend more than the $4.5 billion they spent in 2017. But they will only spend up to a certain amount to acquire someone else’s content because they know the greater returns they get by spending more on something they own outright.
Quality = revenue
There are a few more steps in between but if you do the first part right, the rest happens. Focus on a quality product that people want and the revenue will come. That sounds like a leap of faith. If only there was an Excel formula for your financial forecast:
Netflix has figured this out. They went from a streaming service that started with lots of quantity but little quality. In true Innovator’s Dilemma style they moved upmarket to develop up their game by offering their audience something they couldn’t get anywhere else. And House Of Cards wasn’t just acceptable, it was exceptional. This is what drives Netflix, as explained by Rich Greenfield of BTIG: “The key asset that Netflix has is size. It’s 100 million subscribers ahead of all of its peers,” said Greenfield. “This size gives it the ability to invest more heavily in content, which leads to more content that consumers want to watch, more watch time, and stickier subscriber. It’s a virtuous circle that’s really fueling Netflix.”
Being the pipe gets you nowhere
The days of being the pipe — of building a media business on licensing — is eroding. You can be outbid at any time for the rights to third party content. And that is particularly disastrous to a business that relies on one or two headliners to drive its business.


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HarperCollins Reports Slight Dip in Revenue, Huge Drop in eBook Sales in FY 2016
About a week and a half ago S&S, PRH, and Hachette released their bad news about ebook sales (variously obfuscated). Now HarperCollins is joining the fun.
News Corp released its FY2016 report today. You can read the press release over on Talking New Media, but the more interesting details like how today’s results compared with the previous year’s data were quietly left out of the release.
Luckily for you I spent some time digging and can report that HC’s ebook sales dropped last fiscal year – likely as a result of the return to agency ebook price controls in April 2015.
So here’s what HarperCollins announced officially:
Revenues in the quarter increased $43 million, or 11%, compared to the prior year… . Digital sales represented 19% of Consumer revenues for the quarter. Adjusted Revenues increased 9% compared to the prior year. Segment EBITDA increased $17 million, or 52%, from the prior year due to higher revenues as noted above.
Full Year Segment Results
Full year revenues decreased $21 million, or 1%, compared to the prior year, driven by … lower e-book sales and negative foreign currency fluctuations, partially offset by the release of Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee, the inclusion of the results of Harlequin, which was acquired in August 2014, continued expansion of HarperCollins’ global footprint and the $19 million impact from the additional week. Digital sales represented 19% of Consumer revenues for fiscal 2016. Full year Segment EBITDA decreased $36 million, or 16%, from the prior year primarily due to the factors noted above, partially offset by cost savings initiatives. Adjusted Revenues and Adjusted Segment EBITDA declined 2% and 19%, respectively, compared to the prior year.
According to a different part of the press release, annual revenues for the book publishing division was about $1.646 billion, so that 1% decline is negligible.
The decline in ebook revenues, however, was not.
According to the press release for the FY2015 report, digital sales in News Corp’s book publishing division made up 22% of the $1.667 billion in revenues for the year and 23% of the $360 million in revenue for the 4th quarter.
And so HarperCollins' ebook revenues have dropped significantly last fiscal year.
image by Kevin Doncaster


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Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna urges government to cease export finance to coal industry and calls for new town twinning programme with Africa
The Labour Party has pledged to put an end to UK taxpayers' money being used to finance polluting coal projects in Africa, in a move that could make it easier for UK clean tech companies to tap into the...
Tech giant quadruples number of locations for US customers to hand in old iPhones as part of recycling and reuse drive
GreenBiz releases its latest update on soaring renewables demand from US corporates
Record amount of future new wind capacity will be financed from last year's investment, according to WindEurope
Nation known for its natural beauty is under pressure with extinctions, polluted rivers and blighted lakes


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Sennhesier and Apogee have teamed together to launch ClipMic digital and MKE 2 digital, a pair of clip-on microphones designed for iOS – iPhone, iPad and iPod touch that offer digital recording and enhanced sound quality over similar traditional analog mics.
“We are proud to launch the first digital clip-on microphones designed to connect directly to your iPhone,” says Betty Bennett, Co-Founder and CEO of Apogee Electronics. .
More than just a direct connect with their 1.6m cable through the devices Lightning connector, capturing the enhanced audio will add a new dimension to your videos, according to Wolfgang Fraissinet, Director Audio Recording at Sennheiser. “Speech intelligibility will increase tremendously – and will retain this quality when the speaker is moving. The fact that we feed the mobile device with a professionally converted digital signal results in the best possible sound quality,” says Fraissinet. Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog.


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HP has announced that it will release a new tablet device later this year. The HP ‘Touchpad’ is expected to be unveiled during the summer and the company has expressed confidence in its ability to dominate the tablet market.
The tech firm is hoping to recreate the success it has experienced on the PC market. The device will utilise HP’s WebOS which will compete with Apple, Google, Blackberry and Windows operating systems.
“In the PC world, with fewer ways of differentiating HP’s products from our competitors, we became number one; in the tablet world we’re going to become better than number one. We call it number one plus,” commented Eric Cador, European head of HP.
The WebOS system has been developed using technology HP acquired following its purchase of Palm. Early reviews of the operating system have been almost all positive. However, the company now needs to attract app developers to produce applications for the platform. HP have also commented that apps that run on the web will also be compatible with the Touchpad device.
Confirmed company apps for the new HP device include Sky, The Guardian and Last.fm. However, the company were keen to point out that there will be literally thousands more available following the Touchpad’s launch.
“Only one company plays in both the consumer and business and world. We tend to talk about technologies. But the way the user is going to look at tablets means it’s about experience,” said Mr Cador.


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Kellogg’s, in collaboration with J. Walter Thompson (JWT) Sydney, is launching a series of new executions for the highly successful ‘Amazing Creations’ masterbrand campaign.
Originally featuring YouTube legend Zach King, the campaign has seen a significant sales uplift for brands featured in above-the-line media since first launching in 2016.
Live this week, the new executions comprise of two TVCs and one long-form video, drawing on the talents of Simone Giertz, a YouTube content creator known for building useless machines.
Her robots are put to work demonstrating how Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut and Froot Loops cereals can be mixed with other ingredients to create surprisingly delicious snacks.
Giertz flew in from her native San Francisco to work alongside the JWT team and PR agency Liquid Ideas to develop a myriad of content for social, digital and broadcast media.
Tamara Howe, marketing director for Australia and New Zealand at Kellogg’s, said the campaign is a huge opportunity to showcase how the company’s cereals can be enjoyed outside the traditional breakfast occasion.
“By sharing fun and delicious snacking ideas with our foods, we’re engaging with people who might not have considered using cereal in this way,” she said.
Simon Langley, executive creative director for Australia and New Zealand at JWT, said: “Simone’s charming personality and quirky sense of humour, combined with her highly entertaining snack machines, are the perfect vehicle to help reframe cereal within the snacking space.”
The two TVCs will be seen on free-to-air and pay TV from this week, supported by one long-form video, plus social video content, recipes and other supporting content.
Creative: JWT Sydney
Executive creative director: Simon Langley
Creative directors: Will Edwards and Chris Badger
Creatives: Will Edwards, Chris Badger, Anthony Campagna, and Jari Kennedy
Senior planner: Heather Morrison
Account handling: Ana Lynch, Chris Wilson, Jennie Esposito, and Ellie Sutton
Creative production director: Paul Friedman
PR: Liquid Ideas


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Ashley Nell Tipton Partners with JCPenney as a Brand Ambassador For New Plus Size Line
On the heels of the launch of her limited edition nail polish collection at Sally Beauty, mass retailer JC Penney has announced that they have tapped designer and Project Runway Season 14 winner Ashley Nell Tipton to be the brand ambassador for their new plus size line.
USA Today reports that the new line called Boutique+, will be designed specifically for plus-size customers and available in 500 stores in sizes 0x to 4x. As an added bonus, the new line will also be available in sizes up to 5X on jcp.com, launching in May. For those of us who gripe about the challenge of shopping since most plus size lines are available online, this is amazing news!
Prices will range from $12.99 – $60. They also report that JCPenney is also “debuting an in-store shop called ‘The Boutique’ that will include a variety of brand names, including Tipton’s line coming this fall“.
We’re so happy that JC Penney is partnering with Tipton, who has always championed for fashion for all women and not just up to a certain size.
“Once you feel good you look good and that projects to everyone. A lot of my inspiration is what straight size women wear — why is there a disconnect from what they wear and what we can wear? I don’t want them to be invisible anymore, I want to show personality.”
We’re so excited for Tipton and this has JC Penney definitely on our radar. Check back on the blog as the May launch date grows closer (a specific day has not been announced yet) for more news and updates on this exciting partnership. JC Penney, we see you!


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What are the biggest obstacles facing small businesses? Contrary to conventional wisdom, it isn’t always government. In fact, for many small businesses in California, the main source of bureaucracy, red tape, interference, fine-print traps, and threats to financial stability is a big corporation, not the government.
Tens of thousands of California entrepreneurs have invested in franchised businesses like McDonald’s, 7-Eleven, and Subway because the franchisor corporations promise that ownership in a brand outlet offers technical assistance and the relative safety of a known brand; instead, too many find that they are entering a fundamentally unequal and imbalanced corporate relationship that puts their life work and life savings at risk. As a result, small businesses that are franchisees – which represent 80,000 businesses and one million jobs in California, are having a harder and harder time keeping their businesses afloat.


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Bengaluru residents rejoice! Your Uber rides are set to get cheaper as the ride-hailing service has now included the Bajaj Qute in its fleet. On Thursday, Uber announced its partnership with Bajaj Auto. Under this, the ride-hailing major is going include the Bajaj Qute in its new UbderXS category. This will provide a more affordable commuting option to the travellers in Bangaluru. The new UberXS category, in the India South Asia region, is going to run the Bajaj Qute in the initial stage, in its CNG version only in the city of Bangaluru.
Nandini Maheshwari, Head, Business Development at Uber India and South Asia said that the ride-hailing service provider is currently working on “transforming the mobility landscape of cities” with the help of new technology. She further added that Uber’s partnership with Bajaj is the extension of the company’s commitment towards lowering down transportation costs, enhancing asset utilization as well as work towards improving the convenience of the rider. The charges of UberXS will be between that of its UberGo and auto offering, depending on demand and other factors, Maheshwari said.
Bajaj Qute is a quadricycle which was introduced by the Indian two-wheeler manufacturer as a possible replacement for the three-wheeler. Bajaj has only recently launched this vehicle in India after the the Quadricycle, as a category was approved by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The Bajaj Qute is a four-wheel drive vehicle which can seat driver plus three passengers. It is powered by a 216 cc, single cylinder, liquid cooled engine which is capable of churning out 13.2 hp along with 16.1 Nm of peak torque when running on petrol. When running on CNG, the power and torque figures change to 11 hp and 16.1 Nm. The quadricycles provide a mileage of 43km/kg and make urban commuting more environmentally friendly and affordable.
Bajaj Auto DGM Prashant Ahir said that Bajaj Qute is the first quadricycle of India and will prove to be an ideal solution for the mobility challenges of congestion and pollution arising from rapid urbanisation. Its small size helps to park in congested areas. The Uber XS will be operated in the city of Bangaluru for some time before it makes its way to other Indian cities.
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Just three days before the New Year, the Dairy Alliance group of companies have decided to make an unforgettable gift to all Ukrainian dairy farms – the collapse of prices for raw milk from January 1, 2022 by 10%. This was reported by the press service of the Association of Milk Producers (AMP)
In the "letters of happiness" on December 28, “Zolotonosha Dairy Plant”, “Yagotinskyi”, “Pyryatyn Cheese Factory” and “Bashtanska Cheese Factory”, which are members of the Dairy Alliance, call dairy farms "dear partners", cooperation with which is “highly valued”. However, this well-planned and agreed price démarche is far from the concept of partnership - the calculation is perfect: during the total New Year's holidays for 1-2 days, farms are unlikely to be able to challenge the proposal or reorient volumes.
The Association of Milk Producers has no doubt that the dairy industry is going through difficult times - precisely because dairy farms are in exactly the same situation! Rising tariffs on gas and electricity have raised the cost of milk production - just when farms have not recovered from the effects of the devastating drought of 2020. Most dairy industries operated with a negative profitability of -5-6% until October.
The price of mineral fertilizers increased 3 times in 2021 and, given the predictions of new gas tariffs, at the peak of planting season in 2022 the price will increase further. Due to the capacity problems of the Railways of Ukraine, the cost of railway logistics has increased 5 times - from UAH1000 to 5000 per hour. Expenditures on protein feed increased by 40-50%, the cost of home-grown feed - by 40%, veterinary medicines - by 25%. Finally, 2021 became the most unprofitable for dairy farms in recent 5 years due to the high cost of feed ingredients and means of their fabrication! In such conditions, a sudden collapse of raw milk prices by 10% for the vast majority of dairy farms and their work will be economically impractical.
In his Facebook post, the head of the Dairy Alliance Group Serhii Vovchenko called on farms: "let's reduce the price of raw milk by several percent for the period before the situation with gas prices stabilizes." "Several" means minus 10% in three days? In the same post: "We do not issue ultimatums, but only offer to jointly overcome this crisis". “Together” - means discussion and finding a solution. There is a situation when the enterprises of the Dairy Alliance simply bring farms in front of the fact. For the extremely vulnerable dairy market, which barely managed to suspend the slaughter of cows in the industrial sector in 2021, such drastic steps by either side are unacceptable!
That is why AMP's dairy farms turn to partner factories and, first of all, to the enterprises of the Dairy Alliance: let's react to threats quickly, but carefully, until the situation with gas prices stabilizes! To really JOIN this crisis dairy farms are ready to discus this situation and find a compromise, because we are in the same “boat”.
At the same time, let's speed up joint work on amendments to the law on internal trade for establishing fair market practices with networks. Let jointly promote the value added tax reduction on milk and dairy products throughout the production chain, so that despite of global product inflation, domestic dairy products remain available for everyday consumption for Ukrainians.Wednesday, 29 December 2021


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Zacks Investment Research Lowers Acuity Brands (AYI) to Sell
Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Acuity Brands (NYSE:AYI) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note released on Tuesday.
According to Zacks, “Shares of Acuity Brands lost 15.3% in the last six months, more than its industry's loss of 14.3%. Earnings estimates for the current quarter and the year have remained unchanged over the last 30 days, limiting upside potential for the stock. Acuity Brands operates in a highly competitive industry that is affected by volatility owing to a number of general business and economic factors. Higher spending on research and development of energy efficient lighting products dent margins and thereby the bottom line of the company. Gross profit margin in the fourth quarter decreased 80 basis points year over year owing to the lower-than-expected sales volume. Again, increased volatility, higher costs, reliance on one client and escalating interest/mortgage rates might weigh on the stock.”
Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $198.00 target price on shares of Acuity Brands in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Williams Capital lowered Acuity Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their target price for the company from $204.00 to $175.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Seaport Global Securities reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Acuity Brands in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Co reaffirmed a market perform rating and set a $175.00 target price (down from $185.00) on shares of Acuity Brands in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $196.23.
Acuity Brands (NYSE:AYI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 9th. The electronics maker reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $1.97 by ($0.16). Acuity Brands had a return on equity of 20.08% and a net margin of 8.91%. The business had revenue of $842.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $883.97 million. analysts anticipate that Acuity Brands will post 8.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Xact Kapitalforvaltning AB increased its holdings in shares of Acuity Brands by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Xact Kapitalforvaltning AB now owns 10,818 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $1,904,000 after acquiring an additional 376 shares during the period. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp increased its holdings in shares of Acuity Brands by 13.9% in the 4th quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 27,213 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $4,789,000 after acquiring an additional 3,322 shares during the period. OLD Mutual Customised Solutions Proprietary Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Acuity Brands by 60.0% in the 4th quarter. OLD Mutual Customised Solutions Proprietary Ltd. now owns 2,400 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $422,000 after acquiring an additional 900 shares during the period. Slow Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Acuity Brands in the 4th quarter valued at $402,000. Finally, Peloton Wealth Strategists increased its holdings in shares of Acuity Brands by 13.4% in the 4th quarter. Peloton Wealth Strategists now owns 13,740 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $2,418,000 after acquiring an additional 1,625 shares during the period.
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About Acuity Brands
Acuity Brands, Inc is a provider of lighting solutions for commercial, institutional, industrial, infrastructure and residential applications throughout North America and other international markets. The Company operates through North American segment. The Company offers a portfolio of indoor and outdoor lighting and building management solutions for commercial, institutional, industrial, infrastructure and residential applications.
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
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We are excited to bring Transform 2022 back in-person July 19 and virtually July 20 – August 3. Join AI and data leaders for insightful talks and exciting networking opportunities. Learn More
Historically, businesses seeking new information systems have had two choices — they could purchase one from an external vendor or build a new system using in-house developers. Today, however, there is a third alternative — low-code/no-code applications.
While organizations have been slowly digitizing their processes throughout the last few decades, the pandemic accelerated the pace of transformation. The sudden demand for digital collaborative spaces and remote work tools meant that business leaders needed a way to build and deploy these projects overnight.
Skills gap gives way to need for no-code/low-code
Low-code/no-code platforms equip nontechnical users with the power to design business workflow applications, adapt quickly to changing requirements and be more responsive to their customers. Not to mention, this technology also gives IT teams the capability to reduce their technical debt by streamlining specific functions.
The shortage of software engineers in the U.S. is expected to exceed 1.2 million by 2026, creating the need for widespread adoption of no-code/low-code platforms. Gartner predicts that 70% of new applications developed by organizations will use low-code or no-code technologies by 2025.
As demand for low-code/no-code platforms surges among enterprises, even those that were once dependent on conventional development practices in the past.
It’s important to note that, in general, low-code/no-code options aren’t intended to become a replacement for developers. On the contrary, these tools can significantly enhance speed-to-market and boost business efficiency when used in tandem with traditional programming methods.
Builder.ai is a human-assisted, AI-powered platform designed for entrepreneurs and enterprises to build, run and scale applications without code. The company boasts a high revenue year-over-year increase and claims its top clients include Pepsi, BBC, Fujitsu, Virgin Unite and NBC Universal.
With a purported turnaround time of 48 hours, Builder.ai claims its platform is six times faster and 70% cheaper than using standard development services. The platform doesn’t require extensive training or technical expertise, allowing designers, supply chain managers and others, the ability to create sophisticated, tailor-made applications on-demand.
“Seventy-eight percent of software projects started by small and medium-sized businesses fail. At Builder.AI, we make app building as easy as ordering a pizza,” said Sachin Dev Duggal, CEO and founder of Builder.ai. “We believe that every entrepreneur, every business no matter the size, should be empowered to unlock their true potential in tech, no matter their experience.
Competitors to Builder.ai include Appy Pie, Salesforce Mobile, Airtable and Adobe XD.
New York venture capital firm, Insight Partners, recently led investments into multiple start-ups capitalizing on these transformative shifts in the digital workforce, from low-code/no-code to AI, most recently with Builder.ai.
Insight Partners $100 million investment in Builder.ai’s series C funding round will help drive the company’s overall landscape and operations, further promoting the platform’s customer-first initiative.
VentureBeat’s mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Learn More
Source: Read Full Article


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Oddworld creator Lorne Lanning told Eurogamer today at GDC that he only needs to sell 250K copies of New 'n' Tasty to fund a remake of Abe's Exoddus, the next planned project in the series. Selling more will help fund an all new Oddworld game after that, and Lanning believes he can create this offering if New 'n' Tasty shifts half a million units.
Looking at one of Lanning's upcoming Oddworld ideas, the canned The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot, Lanning said, "I don't think it's anything less than a $5 million title. So to Kickstart it I think would be a little deceptive and a risk. But if we sell half a million copies [of New 'n' Tasty], that's not going to be a problem."
"If I'm doing a new Oddworld game, I'm not going to do it for $2 million. I might do it for five or six," he added. "People keep asking me, 'Why don't you Kickstart Oddworld? You could get at least $1 or $2 million.' And I'm like 'What would I do with a couple million on Kickstarter? On a new Oddworld title?' Not much. I could redo Exoddus for a couple million. I could do that. But a new title, which means new characters doing new things and controls that are great - that's where the real time and expenses come from."
"If you already have the game and you're just doing a conversion, it's easier," he noted. "From scratch, I don't think we could do an Oddworld title for a couple million dollars."
Lanning was quite clear about his desire to make The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot, a project he's resurrected to tinker with some more. "Over the last year and a half, I've designed Fangus extensively. And I would like to be able to move into Fangus as soon as a new IP in Oddworld," Lanning explained. That being said, he noted that the studio has other ideas as well, so Fangus Klot is not guaranteed to be the next original Oddworld title if and when the studio gets enough capital for it.
"But no matter what, Exoddus would come first. And then we'd get into expansion packs for those titles," he stated.
Lanning is very confident that New 'n' Tasty will hit its 250K goal as the digital re-releases of the original Oddysee and Exoddus sold a combined total of over a million. Factor in Stranger's Wrath HD, Munch's Oddysee HD and the Oddbox collection and the series has shifted over two million just on digital releases alone - and seven million overall.
Amazingly, Stranger's Wrath HD sold more than the retail release of the original Xbox game. This is despite the fact that the HD release was self-published, while the original retail game was published by EA, who Lanning claims horribly failed to market the game.
"It only sold about half a million units, then I don't believe it ever went into additional manufacturing," Lanning said of the original Xbox release. Conversely, he noted that its self-published, digitally-only rendition of Stranger's Wrath HD sold closer to 600K units across its PS3, Vita and PC releases over the last couple of years.
There will be one major hurtle New 'n' Tasty will need to overcome to see these kinds of sales: Its price. Lanning told us today that he's planning to charge $30 (about £18) for it.
That might sound like a lot, but Lanning is very confident about its quality. He explained that unlike most indie games that cost about $100K or so, this remake has a budget of nearly $5 million with about $2 million coming out of pocket, while the rest is based on an estimated $2-$3 million in assets the studio kept from back in the day, then later touched up.
"This game will play better, look better, and you'll have more fun with for more hours of play than games you're paying $60 for," Lanning said. "That's a promise. And I can say that with absolute confidence."
"If this had a publisher, the price would be higher and they'd be calling in triple A."


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(Orlando, FL) — January 11, 2021 — Aktion Productions, a video production company based in Orlando, FL, is proud to announce that they have recently launched their new website. Historically doing business from strictly word-of-mouth advertising, the company will now have a user-friendly interface to showcase projects and direct new business. The site is also […]


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Stacy Eames, owner of Highland Bakery, plans to open a new, as yet unnamed concept in the former Aurora Coffee this fall. The space, located at 992 North Highland, at the corner of North Highland and Virginia Avenues, is the epicenter of Virginia Highland. Aurora Coffee, an area favorite, closed in the 1,638 square foot freestanding building in May, 2013.
Rumors have swirled for about a year about what would open in the prime space and while Eames has at times denied her involvement, I've confirmed it is she who will open in the space. Online permits filed with the City of Atlanta dating back to May of last year mention adding restrooms as well as assorted plumbing and electrical work. The most recent permit, filed on June 23rd: "Furnish and install one 5 ton Heat and Cooling Unit with 22 Vents and One Duct Alteration to existing unit."
All of the previous work was performed at the request of property owner "DLD HOLDINGS SIX LLC," likely in an attempt to secure what I understand is a freshly signed lease with Eames.
A well placed source indicates that the new concept will offer healthier fare with options such as fresh juices, wheatgrass shots, granola and milk alternatives like almond and cashew milk. Perhaps gluten free pastries too?
The running name of the business is "P & G Coffee and Pastry." A source close to the situation stated that the new concept should open in late September or early October.
In addition to the new concept, Eames is opening a Decatur outpost of Highland Bakery and adding second locations to the campuses of Emory and Georgia Tech. Currently there are Highland Bakery locations in the Old Fourth Ward, Midtown, Buckhead and on the campuses of Emory and Georgia Tech. In addition, Eames operates a food truck "Highland Bakery On Wheels."
This past April, Eames partnered with Mike Lassiter of Rising Roll in creating a strategic partnership between the two Atlanta-based businesses. Each brand will retain its own identity, with plans for both to benefit from each other’s expertise.
Are you excited about the new Highland Bakery concept? Are you more excited for the Highland Bakery coming to Decatur? What menu items would you like to see carried at either?
Please share your thoughts below.


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Tony Maurice Jackson was 22 when he landed a job as a technician at Arlington Computers, LLC in Arlington, Tenn. The year was 2007. Within a few months, the owner, Michael McDonald, offered Jackson a partnership.
Jackson had been looking for a job and possibly a career, but McDonald's offer fueled his desire to become an entrepreneur. So when a friendship between Jackson and McDonald became evident, Jackson convinced McDonald that he could help grow the business.
The economy was tanking and three other computer stores in the area were forced to close their doors. But Arlington Computers was increasing its customer base and its nearest competitor, also located in Arlington, continued selling software, designing apps and developing websites.
McDonald would soon grow tired of holding the business together, Jackson said. "Mike and I had agreed that the computer business was changing. He wanted to kick back, but I wanted to take the company in a different direction."
So, in 2012, Jackson bought out McDonald's interest and continued steering Arlington Computers through the rough economy,
Now, at age 29, Jackson and three certified technicians are poised to take Arlington Computers to another level. It is the go-to place for computer sales, in-store and onsite computer and laptop repairs, he said, including virus removal, data recovery and LCD screen repair. The company even repairs phones and I-pads.
The customer base, Jackson estimates, is at least 75 percent residential and 25 percent business. Many are repeat customers he knows by name.
"We greet them with a hug and a smile," he said.
Offering what he terms quality service and affordable prices, Jackson says, "We really do care about our customers. ...We have a friendly customer-business relationship. And as long as our customers support us, we'll definitely support our customers."
Customers who live and work in Arlington file steadily through the doors. Just as many come from other cities throughout Shelby County, and as far away as Earle, Ark., said Jackson.
He's also repairing computers remotely for a number of customers in the military.
"Our reputation is spreading," he said. "And that's because we are always willing to go the extra mile to serve and help people. It's about integrity. It's about trust. And we have a lot of both to go around. That's why we're succeeding."
Jackson is endeared in the Arlington community of nearly 12,000 residents. With a thriving business environment that supports the city's tax base, it is located approximately 20 miles from Memphis.
First opened in 2006, Arlington Computers is located in Arlington Shops at 11613 Hwy. 70 and Airline Rd. The store is stocked with computer products and robust signage is evident inside and above the façade. A computer mascot named "Harry" beckons customers inside.
Jackson gives back to the community. He's awarded his customers with tickets to the circus, monster truck shows and basketball games at FedExForum featuring the University of Memphis, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Harlem Globetrotters.
"Back in the day we had a sign up to promote the business. But now we're going all the way with TV advertising to increase traffic," Jackson said. "It's one of the ways we stay visible and on the minds of people."
Visibility, he pointed out, is the key to staying afloat during a sluggish economy. "We are more visible now than we've ever been. We're using social media as well and getting more involved in the community.
"Even though we're making headway in the community in terms of visibility, we are looking forward to increasing our bottom line," he said. "We want to make money of course, but it's good business sense to keep the customer happy."
What's next for Jackson?
"I would like to retire at 40 and leave a legacy for my family," said Jackson, an avid churchman who married the former Monica Rutherford in 2007. They have a 7-month-old son named Brennan.
"Of course, I'll always be doing something after retiring."
(Arlington Computers, LLC open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The telephone number is 901-867-9262. The website address is www.arlingtontncomputers.com.)


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Drones, the most frequent assassin in the “War on Terror,” has increased in usage since 2009. However, this Swiss Army knife-like device has slowly been used commercially more and more. Well, at least it has been teased.
Amazon tested a drone delivery service last summer, with a request filed with the FAA following said test. Prior to that, there was the drone beer service for ice fisherman. However, they didn’t ask for governmental permission and were subsequently shut down.
In the year 2015, the FAA has changed its mind about commercial drones, sort-of.
According to the Inquisitr, the FAA is looking to relax its regulation on “thousands” of drones. More specifically, in two years, Amazon Air might be in flight with your most recent season of the Walking Dead and that iPhone case you purchased. Not surprisingly, drone repair shops like Ctrl.me are “excited,” as the Los Angeles Times reported. Should everyone else be?
It is hard to predict everyone’s desire to have a drone, that normally blows up terrorists and everything nearby, to deliver products to them. However, it is undeniable that everyone loves a good ‘Selfie’. How about a good ol’ “dronie.”
Breitbart reports that the “Dronie” is the new “Selfie.” It has become so popular, among travelers specifically, that resorts are looking to offer the service. That is if you have a wallet equipped for “high dollar” amounts.
According to Eric Cheng, who happens to be the director of a Chinese drone company, says drones will replace the “selfie stick” and will “unlock the third dimension.” That is, if you find the “selfie stick” to be indispensable in the first place, or if you have the desire to travel dimensions.
Amit Gupta, entrepreneur and founder of Photojojo, demonstrated the awesomeness of “dronies” by taking a massive one of he and his friends in San Francisco. Perhaps Apple can come up with a drone feature in the camera app; use the accelerometer at a “MySpace angle,” and press the volume button for “dronie.”
Perhaps “drone with friends” will be created to allow you to chose to share a “dronie,” or drone your buddy.
Considering President Obama’s love of drones and “selfie sticks,” perhaps the next Affordable Care Act commercial will include all the sign ups for the fledgling health care act in a big “dronie.” Only time will tell.
What are your thoughts? Do you take “dronies”? Are you excited about the expanded use of drones? Leave your thoughts.


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Wall Street-worker-turned-food-activist Robert Lee rescues food waste and turns it into nutritious meals for New York’s homeless.
What happens when a 21-year old becomes chief cook on an anti-whaling ship? She writes a fascinating cookbook filled with easy vegan recipes and sea tales.
The Farm Sanctuary Walk for Farm Animals is coming up soon – here’s how you can get involved.
This Earth Day, put your actions where your mind is — join honk-and-wave protests across the country, to demand corporate accountability in food labeling — boo, Kellogg’s! — and raise awareness about GMOs.
“There’s no doubt that the food system is broken. More than 1 billion people are obese, nearly 1 billion people go to bed hungry every night, and at least 2 billion [ … ]
That’s no typo in the headline! Director Zofia Hausman is working on a food film about four “Agtivists:” food activists who are fighting the GMO movement.
Occupy Monsanto is an internationally decentralized movement seeking to force GMO labeling and keep big biotech’s influence out of food policy in government.
Chick-fil-A’s conspicuous homophobia and anti-gay bigotry prompted protests and boycots all over the country this week, by LGBT and progressive activists. On Wednesday the fast food chain also saw record sales, as fellow bigots flocked in droves to support the chain’s anti-gay policies during ‘Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.’ By galvanizing both the progressive community and right-wing homophobes to ‘vote their dollar,’ has the controversy opened a Pandora’s box of conscious consumerism and corporate accountability? Here’s hoping!
Last month EDB reported on a new grass-roots organization seeking GMO labeling through direct consumer action. Faced with Monsanto’s corruption of democracy Connecticut and Vermont earlier this year, GMO Free USA formed to take the labeling issue directly to food manufacturers. The group announced its first action campaign yesterday: boycott-bazookas fire initial rounds this week at the Kellogg Company, demanding fair labeling of their products containing GMO ingredients.
Consumers want GMO labels by an overwhelming majority, but Monsanto has deep pockets — and so far, sufficient political clout to override the democratic process regarding labels for genetically modified foods. In response to this sorry state of affairs, one CT voter turned anger into action and founded GMO Free USA. This innovative grass-roots group seeks to take the issue directly to food manufacturers, through massive consumer action.
This post is my last of three entries for the World Environment Day blog competition. I am now a top ten finalist — every vote counts toward the grand prize of becoming the correspondent for WED2012 in Brazil!
So you’ve decided to become an environmentalist. First, I think it is helpful to know that this label doesn’t have to come with a lot of baggage. I believe it represents a certain mindset or inclination toward feeling compassion for our planet. This is in contrast to the common misconception that environmentalism only includes those who take extreme action in the name of the environment, though these actions are certainly on the spectrum of environmental engagement.
In California, a group called The Committee for the Right to Know is working on a ballot initiative to label GMOs.
You don’t have to be vegan to eat vegan food from time to time! Here are a few simple vegan meal ideas to get you started!


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The Financial Conduct Authority is launching a study into the £1trn UK cash savings market as part of a competition review, and is considering whether to carry out a review into competition in the annuities market.
The study will be part of a programme of work where the FCA will look across financial services markets and assess whether or not competition is working effectively in the best interests of consumers.
The cash savings study will look at a range of issues including the effects of “teaser rates”, the introductory interest rates offered to new customers, and account switching.
The regulator says it will look at whether a market study into competition in the annuities market is needed towards the end of the year.
The FCA says market studies enable it to examine competition in a market, assessing how consumers and firms behave and interact.
The regulator will also call for evidence early next year as part of a strategic review to look at the way competition works between firms in financial services.
The FCA was handed a duty to promote competition in financial services when it came into force in April.
FCA chief executive Martin Wheatley says: “Promoting effective competition and ensuring that markets work well for consumers is a key objective for the FCA.
“We will be undertaking a programme of work and research that will enable us to have a better understanding of how the markets are working and the dynamics that drive both them and the decisions that consumers make.
“In looking at cash savings, we will examine an area that affects most people and see if there is action we need to take. This is exactly the sort of area I want the FCA to be operating in.
“We know that switching rates are low for financial services products and savings accounts are no exception. Even when people do switch their accounts, they are twice as likely to go with their existing provider than move to the offering of a competitor.”


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A gauge of consumer sentiment fell for the first time in four months in March, even before the financial turmoil caused by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.
The University of Michigan’s preliminary March Consumer Sentiment Index (MCSI) dropped to 63.4 from 67, below economists’ estimates of an unchanged reading and the lowest level since December. The reading of current economic conditions dipped 6.1% to 66.4, and the Index of Consumer Expectations dropped to 61.5 from 64.7. Both also missed forecasts.
The decrease in the Consumer Sentiment Index "was already fully realized prior to the failure of Silicon Valley Bank," when about 85% of the interviews for the survey had already been completed, noted Joanne Hsu, director of the consumer survey. She explained that, overall, all the components of the index worsened relatively evenly, "primarily on the basis of persistently high prices." She added that created downward momentum for sentiment leading into last week’s banking worries.
Inflation Expectations Down
Hsu pointed out that consumers’ inflation expectations for the year ahead fell to 3.8% from 4.1% last month, the lowest since April 2021. Respondents anticipated inflation over the next five years to be 2.8%, the lowest in six months.
However, she explained that the "ongoing turbulence in the financial sector," along with uncertainty about how the Federal Reserve will respond, means the outlook for inflation will likely be volatile in the months ahead.


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We’re just hours away from seeing the new Volvo XC40. The first model of the new 40 series will be built on the newly developed Compact Modular Architecture. Volvo plans to launch the small premium SUV later this year. We’ll see what it looks like early tomorrow.
With Frankfurt in the rearview mirror, Mitsubishi is now looking ahead to the Tokyo Motor Show. That’s where the company plans the world premiere of the Mitsubishi e-EVOLUTION concept. The coupe shaped SUV will feature an electric powertrain, 4-wheel drive, and what the company calls “advanced Artificial Intelligence technology”. The 45th Tokyo Motor Show 2017 runs from October 27 through November 5, 2017.
Toyota is bringing racing performance to their daily drivers. The company has announced a new "GR" Sports Car Series. The enhanced vehicles are based on GAZOO Racing technology developed during the company’s motor sports activities. Right now the race inspired Toyotas will just be for the Japanese market, but the company plans to eventually offer them in other markets.


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Saturday, March 13, 2010
DayStar Has a New Website
After mentioning in the February 20 post and before that the DayStar folks said nothing about this new "reader" or had neglected to update anything since last Easter, it now appears that a major change is in the air. They even have a way to order the Reader. They are also constructing a brand new website at: http://www.daystarnet.org/. If you follow them at all this is the one to bookmark since the old site is basically gone.


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At the beginning of the Spring 2021 semester, the University of Miami announced that it would hold one of its Interactive Media classes, entitled “Religion and Sacred Space in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality,” within the metaverse. While the nebulous collection of technological concepts that make up what is referred to as the “metaverse” has become a point of controversy in recent months, this decision by the University leans into the potential positives that normalized use of the metaverse could bring.
The word “metaverse” is a new term for an old idea: a virtual world in which people from across the globe can interact from the comfort of their own homes. In this broad context, video games such as Minecraft and Roblox are technically metaverses. However, the term is generally used to refer to worlds that are only accessible through virtual or augmented reality technology, such as the Oculus Quest headset.
The concept of a metaverse exploded into the popular consciousness late last year, when Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg announced at the company’s annual Connect conference that Facebook’s name would be changed to Meta in order to reflect the media giant’s shift towards virtual reality. In his statement, Zuckerberg touted virtual reality as an improvement to the experience of working from home, something many people have grown weary of after two years of the pandemic.
Since the company took on its new name, new uses for the metaverse have appeared at a whirlwind pace. From a wedding that took place through virtual reality (VR) to a virtual yacht that sold for $650,000, it seems as though forward-thinking tech enthusiasts are figuring out new ways to utilize the metaverse every day. However, the unchecked growth of VR technology could bring with it a litany of dangerous side effects.
Analysts have compared the potential scope of the metaverse in its current iteration to that of the early internet in the 1990s: the technology could revolutionize communication and democratize the availability of information, but it could also become the volatile, hyper-capitalist hellscape that the internet is today.
Currently, the majority of excitement surrounding the metaverse relates to its money-making potential; it is no wonder that Facebook is promoting virtual reality when it produces the Oculus Quest system. In addition, its novelty means that the metaverse is essentially unregulated, allowing for the creation of the booming virtual housing bubble that could likely crash in the near future. This lack of regulation also means that locations within the metaverse are extremely vitriolic — a quality that is amplified by the visual nature of virtual reality.
Furthermore, the adoption of an unregulated metaverse into everyday life would exacerbate existing problems yet to be solved in the real world. The financial inaccessibility of the technology needed to enter the metaverse means that if the usage of virtual reality became a necessity, people from low-income backgrounds would have an even more difficult time breaking into the job market than they do now.
In addition, placing too much of our collective attention on virtual reality distracts us from the tangible problems impacting our offline lives; climate change and structural inequality can only be solved by addressing the root causes of such issues, not by distracting ourselves with virtual worlds.
Despite the immense potential for harm that the metaverse brings, it could bring clear benefits as a tool for teaching and community building. In the aforementioned class, VR technology is used to transport students to different geographical locations pertaining to the course’s subject matter. This is just one example of how VR could be used to revolutionize the way information is presented and disseminated. In addition, active communities located within the metaverse already exist and are used by tens of thousands to make friends around the world.
The duality present in the metaverse mirrors that of the internet at large. The university is utilizing technology in a way that will affect society in a positive way. However, replacing real life with virtual reality has the potential to amplify the worst aspects of the internet, with real-world consequences. Going forward, we must consider the ramifications of technology as potentially powerful and innovative like the metaverse.